Lid assembly for disposer apparatus



Nov. 5, 1968 T. R. SMITH 3,409,234

LID ASSEMBLY FOR DISPOSER APPARATUS I Filed Nov. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet1 /ool o 80 3 1 iw m Nov. 5, 1968 T. R. SMITH 3,409,234

LID ASSEMBLY FOR DiSPOSER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 10, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/4 50 l 59 4/ M I a i 0 74 mg g, /5 30 /9 m6 /5 E 7 4 /07 69 /0 9 86 Ias 30 /9 /00 so a I so 5 Z6\7.9 M 25 2/ //0 m5 7 I 3/ B I as I UnitedStates Patent 3,409,234 LID ASSEMBLY FOR DISPOSER APPARATUS Thomas R.Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, acorporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 10, 1966, Ser. No. 593,475 Claims.(Cl. 24132.5)

This invention relates to waste disposer apparatus and more particularlyto a lid assembly for controlling operation of the drive motor and forcontrolling fluid flow into the comminution chamber of a batch-typedisposer apparatus.

Prior art has shown a number of devices for controlling operation of abatch-type disposer and controlling fluid flow thereinto through manualmanipulation of a lid assembly. These prior art patents include a numberof lid assemblies requiring prepositioning and manual manipulation toselectively energize the drive motor and to selectively permit flow offluid into the disposer apparatus. One prior patent uses a magnet foractuating a switch in a first predetermined angular position of the lidand preventing actuation of the disposer in an inverted second positionof the lid. All of these prior art devices, however, require properangular positioning or orientation of the lid as sembly relative to thedisposer apparatus and then rotation of the lid assembly to achieveactuation of the switching member.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved lid assemblyfor a batch-type disposer operable for selectively energizing andde-energizing the disposer apparatus and for selectively permitting andpreventing fluid flow thereinto when the disposer is de-energized.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for a batch typedisposer a turn-over type lid assembly that does not requireprepositioning followed by manual rotation to actuate the disposerapparatus.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved lidassembly for a batch type disposer including an annular switch actuatoroperable at a first vertical posture for efiecting energization of thedisposer and effecting fluid flow thereinto and operable in a secondvertical posture for preventing energization of the disposer apparatuswhile selectively permitting or preventing fluid flow into the disposer.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved lidassembly for a batch-type disposer including a ring magnet operable in afirst posture for effecting energization of the disposer and effectingfluid flow thereinto and operable in a second posture for preventingenergization of the disposer apparatus while selectively permitting orpreventing fluid flow into the disposer.

The present invention achieves the above objectives in a lid assemblyfor a waste disposer apparatus and includes a ring magnet forselectively actuating the disposer apparatus with the lid assembly in afirst posture. The lid assembly is further operable in an invertedposture for preventing energization of the disposer apparatus bypositioning the ring magnet at an elevated position and further includesa relatively movable portion for selectively preventing or permittingfluid flow through said lid assembly into said disposer apparatus.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof willbecome evident as the description proceeds and from an examination ofthe accompanying two pages of drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment of the invention and in which similar numerals refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an overall side view of a waste disposer apparatus shownpartially in vertical section to expose the exterior of the lid assembyof the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken through 3,409,234 PatentedNov. 5, 1968 the inlet portion of the disposer along line 22 of FIG- URE4 to show further sectional details of the lid assembly of the instantinvention;

FIGURE 3 is an electrical schematic circuit showing the control systemof the instant invention;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the inlet portion of thedisposer apparatus, taken along line 44 of FIGURE 2, showing the lidassembly of the instant inventioniin greater detail;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a lid assembly in thereverse, or inverted position; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the inlet similar to that of FIGURE 5showing the valve portion of the lid assembly in its sealing positionfor closing the fluid ingress into said disposer apparatus.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a generally cylindrical wastedisposer apparatus including an upper housing 11 defining a comminutionchamber 12 for accommodating waste material to be comminuted and furtherincluding an inlet 14 at its upper end for receiving the waste material.The inlet 14 includes a flanged inlet sleeve member 15 supportable in adrain opening of a sink (not shown) or the like. The inlet sleeve member15 is connected to the flanged inlet end 13 of the upper housing 11through a supporting arrangement, indicated generally by the arrow 16,and which includes upper and lower mounting plates 19 and 20 and housingclamping plate 21.

The inner flange portion 24 of the lower mounting plate 20 is supportedon a retaining ring 25 carried by an in wardly extending recess 26formed in the flanged inlet sleeve 15. A plurality of mounting studs 29are threadingly engageable with the lower mounting plate 20 and extendupwardly therethrough to bear against the upper mounting plate 19 whichin turn bears against the lower side of a supporting sink flange (notshown) through a resilient sink gasket 30. The mounting studs 29 furthercarry a clamping nut 31 engageable with the lower surface of the housingclamping plate 21. Tightening of the clamping nuts 31 on mounting studs29 clamps the flanged inlet end 13 of the upper housing 11 between thelower mounting plate 20 and the housing clamping plate 21. Tightening ofthe studs 29 separates the upper mounting plate 19 from the lowermounting plate 20 to effect a connection of the disposer to the sinkthrough the flanged inlet sleeve 15.

A lower housing 35 defines a discharge chamber 36 I communicating with afluid outlet 39. The lower housing 35 is attached to the upper housing11 through a housing clamp 38 encompassing the lower portion of theupper housing 11 and having flange 40 mating with a flange 41 of lowerhousing 35. A plurality of bolts 44 join the mating flanges 40, 41.

A substantially cylindrical shredder ring 45 is maintained in arelatively stationary position through the clamping action of thehousing clamp 38 and the lower housing 35. The shredder ring 45 includesa plurality of inwardly extending shredding elements 46 disposed aroundthe inner periphery of the shredder ring. Between each of the inwardlyextending elements 46 is a longitudinally extending channel 47 foraccommodating flow of fluid and comminuted waste material from thecomminuting chamber 12 toward the discharge chamber 36 and the outlet39. The shredder ring 45 engages and compresses a sealing flange 50 atthe lower end of the upper housing 11 and a sealing gasket 51 recessedinto the upper flange 41 of the lower housing 35 to seal the comminutingchamber 12 and discharge chamber 36 from leakage through the connectionat the mating flanges 40, 41 of the housing clamp 38 and the lowerhousing 35. A fluid seal is provided at the upper end of the housing 11by the juncture of the lower end of the inlet sleeve 15 and the upperinner shoulder of inlet end 13 of the housing 11.

A rotary impeller assembly 54 includes a rotor 55 attached to the motorshaft (not shown) for rotation therewith. The rotor 55 supports at leastone impeller 56 that is cooperable with the inwardly extending elements46 of the shredder ring 45 for effecting comminution of the wastematerial upon operation of the motor.

Attached to the lower portion of the lower housing 35 is a motor 59 forrotating the rotary impeller assembly 54 to effect comminution of thewaste material between the impellers 56 and the shredder ring 45.

Disposed within the inlet sleeve 15 is a lid assembly indicatedgenerally by the arrow 60. This lid assembly 60 is effective as astopper for the disposer apparatus, as a motor control means, and as afluid flow control means as will be more fully described hereinafter.Supported adjacent to the exterior of the inlet sleeve 15 of thedisposer apparatus is means, indicated generally by arrow 100, forcontrolling energization of the motor 59 responsive to manualmanipulation of the lid assembly 60 as will also be more fully describedhereinafter.

Referring to the lid assembly 60 as best shown in FIG- URES 2 and 4through 6, it is seen that the lid assembly 60 is insertable into theinlet sleeve 15 in either of two postures. The lid assembly 60 isinvertable for selectively energizing motor 59 and further includes amovable knob and shaft assembly 61 for selectively permitting fluid flowinto the comminution chamber 12.

The lid assembly 60 includes a body member 64 that may be formed of aplastic material. The body member 64 includes a plurality of openings 65for defining a fluid ingress into said disposer apparatus and furtherincludes a lower recess 66 for receiving a ring magnet 69, as shown inFIGURE 4.

The ring magnet 69 is continuous and extends around the annular recess66 to form a switch actuator' that is not dependent upon angularprepositioning or orientation of the lid assembly. The ring magnet 69may be formed of magnetizable plastic materials, ceramics, or metals.The magnetic material for use with the instant invention is magnetizedso that the ring magnet 69, as used in FIG- URE 4, includes a firstmagnetic pole at the inner periphery 70 of the ring magnet and a secondmagnetic pole at the outer periphery 71 thereof. In one embodiment, thering magnet 69 is formed by wrapping a long strip of magnetized plasticmaterial around the recess 66 in the lid body member 64 a plurality oftimes to form a ring magnet 69 of the desired cross section. The strip,before wrapping, has been previously magnetized through the thickness ofthe strip so that the resulting magnet has a first and a second magneticpole on the inner and outer peripheries, respectively, as previouslyindicated desirable for the instant invention. This arrangement ofmagnetic poles is used for actuating the disposer motor 59 as will bemore fully shown hereinafter.

The lid assembly 60 further includes an encompassing sleeve 74 forenclosing the outer surface of the body member 64 and the ring magnet69. The sleeve 74 includes a flanged portion 76 that is engageable witha recess or groove formed in the body member 64 for retaining the sleeve74 thereon. The body member 64 and attached sleeve 74 fit within theinlet sleeve 15 and rest on the inwardly extending rib 79 formed by therecess 26 in the cylindrical portion of the inlet sleeve 15.

The sleeve 74 further retains a lip seal 80 on the upper portion of thebody member 64 as shown in FIGURE 4 that is engageable with the inwardlyextending rib 79 upon reversal of the lid assembly 60 for sealingagainst flow of fluid around the lid assembly 60 when in the invertedposture as shown in FIGURES and 6.

The body member 64 further includes a centrally located, axiallyextending, cylindrical opening 81 (see FIG- URE 2) having a pair ofradially extending longitudinal grooves 84 for receiving a shaft member85 having a pair of outwardly extending ribs 86 along a portion of theshaft 85. Connected to opposite ends of the shaft is a pair of knobs ofwhich the upper knob in FIGURE 4 may be designated as the lid assemblyknob 89 and the second knob designated as the stopper knob 90. It willbe noted from FIGURES 4 through 6 that the knob and shaft assembly 61 isaxially movable relative to the body member 64 of the lid assembly 60and rotatable relative to the body rnember 64 when the knob and shaftassembly 61 is moved to a position as shown in FIGURE 5. Axial movementof the knob and shaft assembly 61 will move the pair of extending ribs86 to a position at which they become disengaged from the mating grooves84 in the body member 64 and then rotation of the knob and shaftassembly will move the ribs 86 to a position of nonalignment with thegrooves 84 at which position the ribs will rest on an upper hub surface91 of the body member 64 to retain the knob and shaft assembly 61 in anelevated position relative to the body member 64 as shown in FIGURE 5for allowing fluid flow through the lid assembly 60.

Connected to the knob and shaft assembly 61 adjacent the stopper knob isa valve arrangement including a pair of substantially rigid plates 93and 94 clamping a flexible valve member 95 therebetween adjacent thestopper knob 90. This valve arrangement is engageable with the bodymember 64 of the lid assembly 60 as shown in FIGURE 6 to prevent flow offluid through the fluid ingress opening 65.

Referring again to the control system of the instant invention, a reedswitch 99 is positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the inlet sleeve15 by means 100 including a lower switch housing portion 101 and a coverportion 104. The switch housing portion 101 is supported by a housingretainer 105 that is in turn welded to the lower mounting plate 20.

The reed switch 99 is located at a predetermined vertical positionadjacent the inlet sleeve 15 so as to be positioned in the horizontalplane substantially bisecting the ring magnet 69 when the lid assembly60 is in the operating position as shown in FIGURE 4. At this horizontalplane, the lines of magnetic force extending between the inner and outermagnetic poles are concentrated and tend to radiate in a substantiallyoutward direction along this plane to pass longitudinally through thereed switch 99 and effect actuation thereof. It will be noted that thismagnetic field is present around the entire ring magnet 69 and thus thering magnet is operable for actuating the reed switch 99 regardless ofthe angular orientation of the lid assembly 60. It will also be notedthat inverting the lid assembly 60 to a posture as shown in FIGURES 5and 6 moves the ring magnet 69 to a second vertical position above thereed switch 99 for preventing actuation of the reed switch 99 andmaintaining the disposer apparatus drive motor 59 de-energized.

An alternate embodiment not shown would include positioning of a biasingmagnet radially outward from the reed switch 99 so that lines of forcefrom the outer magnetic pole of the ring magnet would extend toward abiasing magnet through the reed switch 99 with a stronger magnetic fieldthan if the biasing magnet were not used. It has been found, however,that the stronger magnetic field through the reed switch effected by thebiasing magnet is not required in the preferred embodiment.

The reed switch 99 is connected into the control circuit by a pair ofwires 106, 107 which extend from the reed switch 99 through a flexibleconduit 110 to other elements of the control circuit as will be shownhereinafter.

The control circuit is shown schematically in FIGURE 3 and includes aplurality of control and operating elements connected between powerlines L and L The reed switch 99 is connected in series with a relaycoil 111 that is energizable in response to completion of a circuitthrough the reed switch 99 for operating a line switch 114 to the closedcondition and thereby completing an energizing circuit to the drivemotor 59. The drive motor 59 includes the start winding 115 and the runwinding 116 and further includes a starting relay 117 and capacitor 118.After completion of a circuit through the reed switch 99 and operationof the line switch 114 to the closed position, the run winding 116 isenergized and then start winding 115 is energized through switch 119 foraccelerating the motor 59 to operating speed. Upon encountering adecrease in current to run winding 116 the starting relay coil 117 isde-energized to open the start winding switch 119 and to remove thestart winding 115 from the circuit. Operation of the run winding 116continues under control of the thermal protector 120 which is operableto an open position upon encountering an overload condition.

The instant invention may be more clearly seen by reviewing theoperation of the disposer shown in the attached drawings. The inventionis applied to a batchtype disposer and thus the first step in itsoperation is to remove the lid assembly 60 and insert the waste materialinto the comminutin-g chamber through the inlet 14. The water is turnedon and then the lid assembly 60 is inserted into the inlet 14 in aposition as shown in FIGURE 4. Movement of the lid assembly 60 and ringmagnet 69 to the position shown in FIGURE 4 actuates the reed switch 99to a closed position for energizing the drive motor 59. The knob andshaft assembly 61 will assume the position shown in FIGURE 4 to allowfluid flow through the fluid ingress of the body portion. Operation ofthe device will continue until the lid assembly 60 is moved from theposition shown in FIGURE 4.

If the operator desires to use the sink, to which the disposer isestablished, without operating the disposer, the lid assembly 60 may bereversed and reinserted into the inlet sleeve 15 as shown in FIGURES 5and 6. With the knob and shaft assembly 61 in the same rotationalorientation relative to the body member 64 as shown in FIGURE 4, theknob and shaft assembly 61 will assume a position as shown in FIGURE 6when the lid assembly 60 is inverted. This position of the lid assembly60 and the knob and shaft assembly 61 prevents fluid flow around theouter periphery of the lid assembly 60 because of the lip seal 80 andprevents fluid flow through the fluid ingress openings 65 because of theclosing of the openings 65 by the valve member 95 attached adjacent tothe stopper knob 90. Use of the lid assembly 60 as shown in FIGURE 6will allow the sink to be filled with fluid.

Fluid may then be drained from the sink by moving the knob and shaftassembly 61 axially upwardly with respect to the body member 64 and thenrotating the knob and shaft assembly 61 for positioning the outwardlyextending ri'b 86 to a position at which it rests on the hub portion 91of the body member 64. The knob and shaft assembly 61 is retained in aposition as shown in FIG- URE 5 "whereby fluid flow is permitted throughthe fluid ingress opening 65 while the disposer apparatus is maintainedde-energized.

It is thereby seen that the instant invention provides an improvedcontrol system having a lid assembly 60 which has eliminated theprevious requirement of prepositioning of the lid assembly to aparticular angular orientation. This lid assembly 60 allows operation ofthe device upon merely inserting the lid assembly 60 into the inlet inany of a multiplicity of angular positions.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts aswell as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated ascircumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing fromthe spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in thefollowing claims:

I claim: I

1. In a lid assembly engageable with the inlet of a waste disposerapparatus in a first posture and a second inverted posture relative tosaid inlet for selectively controlling fluid flow into said disposerapparatus and controlling energization of said disposer apparatus, thecombination comprising: a body portion engageable with said inlet in amultiplicity of angular positions about the center line of said inlet;annular actuation means operable with said lid assembly in said firstposture and said body portion in any of said angular positions forenergizing said disposer apparatus, said annular actuation means beinginoperative for energizing said disposer apparatus with said lidassembly in said second posture; a fluid ingress into said disposerapparatus defined at least in part by said body portion; and a movableportion supported by said body portion and movable relative thereto,said movable portion being axially movable to an open position with saidlid assembly in said first posture whereby said disposer apparatus isenergized and fluid is admitted into said disposer apparatus, saidmovable portion being selectively movable from said open position to aclosed position for closing said fluid ingress when said lid assembly isin said second posture whereby said disposer apparatus is de-energizedand fluid flow through said lid assembly is prevented.

2. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 1 and further including meansfor gripping said lid assembly to selectively position said lid assemblyin said first or second posture and to selectively move said movableportion between said open and closed positions.

3. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said body portionincludes means for sealing said body portion to said inlet when said lidassembly is in said second posture.

4. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein said fluid ingress isdefined by said body portion and wherein said movable portion includesvalve means engageable with said body portion for closing said fluidingress when said lid assembly is in said second posture.

5. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said movable portionis manually movable to and lockable in said open position with said lidassembly in said second posture whereby fluid flow through said fluidingress is selectively permitted.

6. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said annularactuation means is mounted in a radially outwardly disposed recess insaid body portion.

7. In a lid assembly engageable with the inlet of a Waste disposerapparatus in a first posture and a second inverted posture relative tosaid inlet for selectively controlling fluid flow into said disposerapparatus and controlling energization of said disposer apparatus, thecombination comprising: a body portion engageable with said inlet in amultiplicity of angular positions about the center line of said inlet; aring magnet carried by said body portion and operable with said lidassembly in said first posture and said body portion in any of saidangular positions for energizing said disposer apparatus, said ringmagnet being inoperative for energizing said disposer apparatus withsaid lid assembly in said second posture; a fluid ingress into saiddisposer apparatus defined at least in part by said body portion; and amovable portion supported by said body portion and movable relativethereto, said movable portion being axially movable to an open positionwith said lid assembly in said first posture whereby said disposerapparatus is energized and fluid is admitted into said disposerapparatus, said movable portion being selectively movable from said openposition to a closed position for closing said fluid ingress when saidlid assembly is in said second posture whereby said disposer apparatusis de-energized and fluid flow tthrough said lid assembly is prevented.

8. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 7 and further including knobmeans for gripping said lid assembly to selectively position said lidassembly in said first or said second posture and to selectively locatesaid movable portion at said open or said closed position while said lidassembly is in said second posture.

9. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 7 and further includingshoulder means on said body portion engageable with said inlet forlocating said ring magnet in said first posture and further including aseal portion on said body portion engageable with said inlet forlocating said ring magnet in said second posture and sealing with saidinlet to prevent fluid flow around said body portion while said lidassembly is in said second posture.

10. In a lid assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said ring magnet islocatable at a first vertical position for energizing said disposerapparatus with said lid as References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,619,654 12/1952 Coss 241-325 2,813,534 11/1957 Low 24132.5 X 2,939,6396/1960 Coss 241-325 X ANDREW R. JUHASZ, Primary Examiner.

FRANK T. YOST, Assistant Examiner.

sembly in said first posture and wherein said ring m ag-

1. IN A LID ASSEMBLY ENGAGEABLE WITH THE INLET OF A WASTE DISPOSERAPPARATUS IN A FIRST POSTURE AND A SECOND INVERTED POSTURE RELATIVE TOSAID INLET FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW INTO SAID DISPOSERAPPARATUS AND CONTROLLING ENERGIZATION OF SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS, THECOMBINATION COMPRISING: A BODY PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID INLET IN AMULTIPLICITY OF ANGULAR POSITIONS ABOUT THE CENTER LINE OF SAID INLET;ANNULAR ACTUATION MEANS OPERABLE WITH SAID LID ASSEMBLY IN SAID FIRSTPOSTURE AND SAID BODY PORTION IN ANY OF SAID ANGULAR POSITIONS FORENERGIZING SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS, SAID ANNULAR ACTUATION MEANS BEINGINOPERATIVE FOR ENERGIZING SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS WITH SAID LIDASSEMBLY IN SAID SECOND POSTURE; A FLUID INGRESS INTO SAID DISPOSERAPPARATUS DEFINED AT LEAST IN PART BY SAID BODY PORTION; AND A MOVABLEPORTION SUPPORTED BY SAID BODY PORTION AND MOVABLE RELATIVE THERETO,SAID MOVABLE PORTION BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE TO AN OPEN POSITION WITH SAIDLID ASSEMBLY IN SAID FIRST POSTURE WHEREBY SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS ISENERGIZED AND FLUID IS ADMITTED INTO SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS, SAIDMOVABLE PORTION BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE FROM SAID OPEN POSITION TO ACLOSED POSITION FOR CLOSING SAID FLUID INGRESS WHEN SAID LID ASSEMBLY ISIN SAID SECOND POSTURE WHEREBY SAID DISPOSER APPARATUS IS DE-ENERGIZEDAND FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID LID ASSEMBLY IS PREVENTED.